Saddleworth health centre takes another step forward

Plans to get a new health centre for Saddleworth have taken another step forward after a meeting between the Liberal Democrats and Transport for Greater Manchester to ensure that any new site is accessible by public transport.

As a result, Transport for Greater Manchester have been invited on to the Partnership Board that is putting together the plans for the new centre, who will also be working with representatives from the Northern Care Alliance, following additional work by the Lib Dem team.

Saddleworth Lib Dem councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “Getting a new health centre is the only way of getting additional services into Saddleworth. We’re making sure that everyone is part of the negotiations at the earliest possible stage.

“I grew up going to the GP in Uppermilll, and I still have great affection for it, but we currently see people being forced to trek to health centres in Chadderton and Failsworth for services that should be being delivered locally. That’s not acceptable.”

The plans will be developed over the next six to nine months, with funding for the work provided by the local Integrated Care Board. With millions required to build a new centre, the full project is scheduled to take between three and five years. This follows years of pressure, with the Liberal Democrats first proposing this in their 2021 budget.

Sam continued: “The Lib Dems are making sure that everyone is involved in this from day one. We have health centres elsewhere in Oldham that aren’t getting used properly, so we’re doing everything we can to make sure that this is the building we need, that everyone can get to it, and that it has all the services that local people want.”